the expanse

The Expanse (seasons 1-3)

I got this from the library and watched it quite fast because the show is gripping and fascinating, with excellent characters, great world-building, suspense, cool costumes, and fun haircuts. They seem to have no shortage of money; the sets and special effects are great.

The action mostly takes place in the Asteroid Belt, focusing on the lives of Belters. Miller is a stereotypical hard-boiled detective on Ceres, and he is assigned to quietly look for a missing woman named Julie Mao. Meanwhile, on an ice freighter, James Holden is offered the position of XO, and struggles with the responsibility. Earth is governed by the UN. Our window into this world is Chrisjen Avasarala, surely one of the greatest characters to ever grace a TV screen. Chrisjen is worried about a war breaking out between Earth and Mars.

The Expanse can be quite violent. Season 1 is more focused on white men than later seasons are, and I noted a couple of "bury your gays" moment (minor characters). By season 3 we have a lesbian character; I'd say queer representation on this show is a somewhat mixed bag.

I appreciate that there is (so far) no sexual violence. There are some brief torture scenes, lots and lots of murder, some gore, some child harm, a suicide.

I love how this show wrestles with ethics. The characters struggle to make the right decisions and sometimes they screw up. Violence vs. mercy is a repeated theme. The first season in particular focuses on lower class people who are just trying to get by. After a season and half, the story shifts, wrapping up several plot lines and starting in a different direction. This happens again in mid season 3.

Other appeal: Canadian actor bingo.

Highly recommended!

Movie and TV notes!

Adrift - 2018

I picked this up from the library and ended up really liking it. It's a good example of the survival-adventure genre. Shailene Woodley is absolutely adorable; she plays Tami, a very independent, free-spirited adventurer who is traveling around the world finding work where she can. She meets Richard, a fellow adventurer-sailor, and they fall in love. They're hired to sail a yacht across the Pacific, but the boat is overtaken by a hurricane. The main mast breaks and Richard is badly injured. Tami must keep them alive and try to get them back to civilization. Content note: some taking care of wounds including a scene where Tami stitches her own face.

Bonding - Netflix 2019

I really liked this, but your mileage may vary. It's about a professional dom, Tiff, who hires her gay best friend to be her assistant. It's zany and feels like a slight AU of reality. I spoke to one kinkster who hated it; as I am not a practicing kinkster I don't have skin in this game. (I just read a lot of kinky fanfic). It felt fun and light-hearted to me, the kind of fic-like story where they don't focus on negotiation; the kind of story where you know things are going to work out OK. There are a couple of scenes where Tiff must deal with creepy men, including a harassing professor, but she does this well and it's satisfying to see her tell these guys off (and in one case, she actually stabs someone). I enjoyed the bright colors-- lots of red and pink and green. Brendan Scannell, who plays the gay best friend, is super charming and I look forward to seeing him in other things.